We in the public affairs program of the state bar hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to help shape public policy by participating in the legislative process.
And when it comes to lobbying for either you own legislation or
state bar positions, following a few common-sense guidelines can
make our efforts more productive and less frustrating.

Spend Time Preparing—In making decisions, legislators
rely heavily upon information they receive through correspondence
and committee hearings. If you are well prepared, you will be well-received.
When appearing in person, take extra copies of written testimony
with you.

Know the Players—Developing a relationship
with the key parties who have interest in your issues is helpful.
Also get acquainted with the legislators who represent your community.
They can often provide invaluable entrees and guidance when you
get stuck in the legislative maze. A few probing telephone conversations
with legislative observers can secure useful information.

Maintain Your Credibility—Be candid and avoid
making demands or overstating the truth. An effective witness is
regarded as a valuable resource. Most legislators respond best to
well reasoned arguments.

Be Concise—At the legislature be direct and
to the point as you help the decision makers fill the information
gap with facts. Even a beautifully packaged pitch will fail to get
off the ground if it lacks substance. So focus on your primary message
and leave your shotgun at home.

Demonstrate Positive Advocacy—Whether
you are supporting or opposing legislation, remember that a positive
approach works best because legislators are trying to solve problems.
There is little tolerance of unconstructive naysayers. In fact,
taking a posture of total opposition may even arouse hostility.

Persistence Pays Off—Not giving up is frequently
what makes the difference. The outputs of the legislative process
can almost always be traced to tenacious advocates.

Cultivate Constituencies—Try to attract a variety
of supporters for your legislative proposal or position. Key legislative
staff members and interested citizen groups should be courted. Bills
are often torpedoed by interested groups which feel like they were
excluded from the formulation of the policy. When appropriate, try
to recruit bar committees to your cause.

Monitor the Status of Bills—Closely and continually
follow the progress of your legislation. Do not lose sight of your
legislation until it has actually been signed into law by the governor.
The legislative process if founded upon the principle of incrementalism
and numerous pitfalls await the unaware participant. And as Lew
Rawls would say, always be aware of deadlines.

Consider Fiscal Implications—Neglecting any
fiscal considerations is one of the quickest ways to put legislation
on a dead end path. (This advice is more pertinent than ever given
the budget deficits projected for this years legislative session.

Recognize the Art of Compromise—Be willing
to compromise because getting part of what you want is better than
getting nothing.

Please accept this invitation to grab the ears of
your lawmakers and try out some of the techniques outlined above.
Our public decision makers are usually anxious to obtain the kind
of insightful data which often can be best provided by lawyers.

Members of the bar should feel an overriding interest
in a well-briefed and informed Legislature. Even if you and your
clients also have less selfless reasons for trying to influence
legislation, your skilled participation in legislative affairs will
indirectly also benefit the bar.